Independent and Subordinate Clauses: Teaching Grammar to High School Students with Mentor Sentences

Teach independent and subordinate clauses to your high school students in a meaningful way. Students will observe, discuss, and respond to mentor sentences, and then craft their own! They will build fluency, learn the correct punctuation, grasp grammar concepts and ultimately improve their writing through this proven method of grammar instruction.

The key lies in the power of the MENTOR SENTENCE. This is the way to make grammar instruction meaningful and engaging, while connecting it to literature. The mentor sentence is a carefully-selected sentence that reveals a certain grammar or writing concept. Students take time to observe what is happening in the sentence, then they write their own sentence in a similar structure (part of the sentence is provided for them). Last, they write their own completely original sentence using the concepts from the mentor sentence.

I can not emphasize the power of this method enough. Not only did it allow my students to finally "get" the concepts of what a subordinate and independent clause are but they actually started writing better in the essays they would turn in weeks after the lesson (i.e. less run on sentences!). The concepts stick!

This is a NO PREP lesson for the teacher. Each slide is artfully created with teacher notes on nearly every slide. It is a great way to start the class period (the lesson takes only 20 minutes), can be used in preparation for any writing assignment, or can be used when reviewing for standardized tests; it can truly be used at any point in the school year. In addition I've included a guided notes handout that will help your students stay organized and focused during the lesson as well as give them an easy way to find the mentor sentences later when they are completing a writing assignment if they need inspiration.

You can easily do this remotely if you are practicing virtual learning. The entire lesson is in a PDF format which can easily be used in google slides or powerpoint. 

Believe me when I say, this is a better way to teach grammar. Ditch the grammar worksheets and watch your students actually grasp what subordinate and independent clauses are, and then use them in their own writing!

What You Get:

• 17 Slides with complete instruction for students; fully scaffolded lesson
• Guided notes for students
• Teacher instructions on nearly every slide with examples of student responses
• A NO PREP, ENGAGING, and EFFECTIVE grammar lesson!

If you like this product, please check back often. I'll be adding more grammar lessons that cover everything from basic to advanced grammar for high school students! 

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